Gas turbine-engine



W. J. DODGE.

GAS TURBINE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1919.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- 7 E J; w

W. J. DODGE. GAS TURBINE ENGINE} APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1919.

1,353,733 PatentedSept. 21,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR ATTORNEY w. J. DODGE. GAS TURBINE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I3, I919- 1,353,733.- PatentedSept. 21,1920.

5 SHEET.$SHEET 4.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY W. J. DODGE.

GAS TURBINE-ENGINE.

. APPLICATION man JUNE 13. 1919.

M 0 T 2 9 m 1,T V s 2 EH M s 0.1 m m P ATTORNEY provide in con ,i a v WILLIAM nonsn, or sen DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

eas swarms-E GINE.

object in view being to produce an engine of light weight, economical to manufacture embodying in connection with a rotor and' stator, an annular series of stationary cylinders surrounding said rotor and stator, each of said cylinders comprislng a combustion chamber and a piston, together with means for admitting explosive mixture to said cylinders and igniting the same therein, the expanding mixture'being then delivered to the vanes of the turbine section of the engine in a manner'to produce the best results.

A further object of the invention is to 'unction with the arrangement above referred to, means for locking the pistons of said cylinders against movement, together with governor controlled means for unlocking and releasing'said pistons prior to the ignition of the compressed charges of mixture in the cy inders, whereby the power of the engine may be automatically controlled to suit variations in the load imposed thereon, also enabling a predetermined speed of the engine shaft to be main- I about in ,tained under varying loads.

With the above and other objectsin view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arran ement of parts, herein fully described, illustrated and claiinedj I In the accompanying drawings r Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the complete engine, said view being taken about in line with the central vertical Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the same in a plane which intersects the vanesof the turbine part of the engine;

Fig. 3is a top plan. view of the eng ne,

certain parts of the governor mechanism' being shown in section. 1 Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertlcal section taken nism for actuating the tappets.

rotor shaft.

line withjthe rotor shaft, illustrating a part ofithe. governor control mecha Specification of Letters Patent. I pm m 5. 5 1, 1929, Application filed June 1a, 1919.

Serial no. 303,909.

of the cylinders, showing also one of the fuel and air intake valves used in conjunc-.

stem of the respective air and fuel intake valve.

Fig. 8 is aifragmentary plan view of the same, showing the cooperation of the locking dogs. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view show- 1ng one of the push rods, andpai'ts immediately adjacent thereto,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of one of the fuel and air' intake valves. The engine contemplated in this .invention comprises a supporting base 1 from which rises a vertical wall or support 2 having a flange 3 at the top, thereof upon which is mounted an annular support or multiple cylinder head 4. Superimposed upon the multiple cylinder head or annular support 4 is a second series of cylinders 5. each of which is closed at its-upper end by a head 6 having a centrally arranged stuffing box 7 through which is slidable a checkor stop rod 8 forming the piston rod of a piston 9 mounted to move up and down in the rethrough the center of the cylinder -at the bottom thereof to. ignite the compressed mixture in. the combustion chamber 10.' In the upper head6 there is arranged an automatic air inlet valve 13 and the air com'-.

pressed in, the chamber 12 is forced "past a check valve 1ft through an outlet 15 toa compressed air storage tank (no-t" shown) from which the air may be conducted toand used at such points as maybe found necessary in the complete and eflicient operation of the engine as a whole. One or more check valves 14 may be employed to admit 'airto acompressed air chamber 16 in the- 17 designates threaded cylinder head 6.

the check valves 14.

plugs to: give access to stroke, and hencein thmabsence of com- The piston has no work t dtdoion the down pressed air above it, it will gravitate to its lower position.

The multiple cylinder head or annular I support 4 is formed with an internal flange 18 upon which is supported and to which is secured by fastening means 19 a disk shaped stator body 20. Rising from the stator 20 are two or more series of vanes 21 and 22, said vanes being therefore stationary. Arranged above the stator 20 is a rotor 23 havingon the under side thereof a plurality of series of vanes 24 and 25. The rotor 23 is mounted upo n a vertical rotor shaft 26 stepped at its lower end in a bearing 27 and journaled between the upper and lower ends thereof in a bearing 28 attached to a stationary cover plate 29 which is connected at its margin to the heads of the cylinders 5. The shaft 26 extends above the cover plate 29 where it has associated therewith governormechanism hereinafter more particularly described. 30 designates the central exhaust chamber of the turbine section of the engine which exhaust chamber is in communication with an exhaust pipe or connection 31 leading to the atmosphere. Leading from each of the cylinders 5 to the turbine portion of the engine is a plurality of obliquely dis-. posed ports or passages 32. It will be observed in Fig. 2 that the passages 33 are arranged all the way around the turbine part of the engine so that a multiplicity of streams of expanding mixture are directed against the vanes of the rotor and stator until the fiuid when about fully expanded enters the central exhaust chamber 30. It will be observed in Fig. 5 that the ports 32 are vertically elongated and are arranged to be uncovered by the respective piston 9 as it moves upwardly when anexplosion occurs in the combustion chamber 18. The piston is provided with the usual packing rings 33 for the usual purpose.

' In conjunction with each cylinder 5,1 employ a cylindrical valve casing 34 containing a hollow piston valve 35 equipped on its peripheral face with packing ringsl36 which are arranged at opposite sides of the outlet passage or port 37 of the casing34, which port or passage 37 communicates with'the combustion chamber 10 of the adjacent "cylinder. The valve 35 has fixedly secured thereto anoperating stem 38 which works through a stuffing box 39 in the upper head 40 of the casing 34. At the lower extremity of the stem 38 and within the valve 35, there is a pump plunger head 41 which is movable back and forth in a fuel-feed pipe 42, the adjacent portion of said pipe forming a pump barrel so that in each upward movement of the valve 38, a working stroke of the plunger head 41 is effected thereby pumping a predetermined amount of fuel into the valve 35 and the "valve casing 34.

The lower head or end wall 43 of the valve casing 34 embodies a stationary cone member 44 which is in effect an air valve. The

valve body 35 is formed at the bottom thereof witha cone-shaped valve seat 45, which conforms to the shape of the member or valve 44, excluding air when the valve is in its lowermost position but admitting air to said valve and valve casing when the valve is elevated by the means hereinafter de scribed. The port 37 above referred to communicates with a channel 46 extending around the valve casing 34 and the body of the valve 35 is formed With an annular series of outlet ports 37 which, when brought on a level with the channel 46, serve to release the explosive mixture which then passes through the port 47 into the combustion chamber 10 of the adjacent cylinder 5. The channel 46 is intersected by a compressed air pipe 48 which communicates at its receiving end with a port 49 in the adjacent cylinder 5 immediately adjacent to the head 6 thereof. An automatic check valve 50, shown as of the ball type is incorporated in the pipe 28 to prevent back pressure. The air compressed in the chamber 11 is forced through the pipe 48 past the check valve 50 into the annular channel 46, around the valve body 35 when the latter has been lowered and through the passage 37 into the combustion chamber 10 to scavenge the burned gases therefrom after each explosion. Preferably the valve casing 34 is provided near the bottom thereof with an annular air conduit or channel 51 to which air under pressure is 100.

fed from a suitable compressed air tank hereinabove referred to as supplied from the .compressed air chamber 11.

Arranged above the cover plate 29 is a rotary support or plate 53 having a marginal annular upstanding flange 54 which is formed with diametrically opposite slots 55 through which are slidable governor controlled tappets 56 having rounded or arcuate working faces 57. Pivotally connected to the tappets 56 are links 58 the inner ends of which are-pivotally connected to bell crank levers 59 pivotally supported by posts 60 rising from the support 53. The inner ends of the levers 59 are provided with cams or shoes 61 which coiiperate with rollers 62 on the free extremities of a pair of arms 63 connected by pivots 64 to the posts 60 and arranged at opposite sides of the rotor shaft 26 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Each of the arms 63 is provided at a point between the ends thereof with a roller 65 which works in an annular groove 66 adjacent to thelower end of a vertically movable governor operated sleeve or tubular weight 67 125 which embraces the upper end portion of the shaft 26. Each of the arms 63 is of telescopic formation, one section being tubular so as to receive the other section which carries the roller 62, the section which carrice the roller 62 being yieldingly sustained directions from the shaft 26 and having a fixed relation thereto are arms 69 to which are pivotally connected centrifugally operated governor weights 70. Each of said weights comprises an inwardly extending finger 71 which engages the sleeve or weight 1 67 in such manner that when the weights move outwardly away from the shaft 26, an elevating effect is obtained on the sleeve 67. The sleeve 67 is connected at its upper extremity by a ball and socket joint 72 with a spring tensioned lever 7 3 fulcrumed on a post 7 4 rising from a stationary part of the engine. Connected to the outer extremity of the lever 73 is a rod or stem 75 which is slidable through a fixed guide 76 and is yieldingly pressed in an upward direction by a compression spring 77 interposed between the guide 7 6 and a shoulder on the stem 75. The tension of the spring 77 is exerted to yieldingly hold the sleeve or weight 67 in a lowered position, the weights 70, in moving outwardly, serving to overcome the resistance offered. by the spring 77.

The tappets 57, when projected outwardly by the action of the governor mechanism, come in contact with a roller 7 9' on the adjacent end ofa pushrod 80, one of said push cylinder 5 and extending about diametri-' cally across the head thereof as shown in Fig. 6. Each push rod 80 is-formed with a V-shaped recess 81 at a point between the ends thereof andis provided with another V-shapedrecess 82 adjacent to theextremity thereof. ,The recess 80 receives a gravity. latch 83 having a pivotal connection at 84 with the arm 85 of one of a pair of locking. dogs 86 employed for the purpose of looking the respective piston or check rod 8 so as to prevent movement ofthe piston 9 in the cylinder 5. The dogs 86 are formed with inwardly extending lips '87 which engage the extremity of the adjacent rod 8 as shown, and are mounted on oppositely located pivots 88.and geared together for simultaneous movement in opposite directions by sector gear faces or extensions .80 is thrust inwardly by the actio n of one of. the tappets 57 against the roller 79 thereof, the shoulder formed by the recess 81 acts on the gravity latch 83 and thereby rocks thelockingdogs so as to move thelips 87 thereof out ofthe'path of the rod '8 to permit the piston 9 to move upwardly in the cylinder v5. As the movement of theipush rodss continues the gravity latch 83 rides upwardly on the inclined face 90 of'an elevating block 65 91 adjustably secured to the cylinder head 6 rods being used in conjunction with eachrack face .rotary support 89. As the push rod thereby moving the gravity latch out ofengagement with the recess 81 and permitting the push rod 80 to move further without engaging said latoh. One of the lockiri'g dogs 86 has a contact arm 92 extending therefrom and forming a terminal of an ignition circuit. As the respective dog-86 swings in a direction to release the rod8, the contact arm 92 makes'co'ntact with another stationary contact 93 forming the other terminal of the ignition circuit. This produces a spark at the plug 12 just after the rod 8 has been unlocked by the dogs 86. An explosion then takes place inthe combustion chamber 10 with the result above described.

The other recess 82 of the pusli rod 80 engages one .arm of an elbow lever 94 piv-, otally supported .by a bracket 95 rising from the cylinder head 6 and having pivotally connected thereto the stem 38 of the valve 3 5 hereinabhve described. In this way, the valve 35 is elevated to its changing position andv the charge passes through'the' passage 37 into the combustion chamber 10. Tm mediately thereafter the valve 34 is released by the action of a normally stationary adjustable block 96'having an inclined 97 and otherwise corresponding in shape and function with the block 91 previously referred to.

The means for imparting rotary motion to the support or. plate 53, comprises a shaft 98 journaled in bearings carried by the support 53, said shaft 98 having fast thereon a which meshes with an annular 100 on the cover plate 29 hereinabove described. The shaft 98 also has fast thereon a gear 101 which meshes with another gear 102 on the rotor'shaft 26, the last named gears preferaby being of the spiral type and the actuating gearing of the 53 being so designed as to impart a comparatively very low speed to the support 53, the speed being however sufficient to insure the outward movement of the tappets 57 under the centrifugal action, of the governor. mechanism hereinabove described. 103 designates a transmission or power delivering shaft which is geared to the rotor shaft 26 by the gears 104 and 105 shown as of the worm type.

Fromthe foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it'will now be understood that the expinion 99 plosions take place in the combustion chambers of the cylinders 5 which are arranged expanding mixture is directed through the passages 32- against the vanes of the turbine and in this way rotary motion is imparted to the latter and to the'rotor shaft 26. Two explosions occursimultaneously.

'byreason of the action of the diametrically opposite tappets 57 on the push rods 80. As

- will lift the valve allowing a charge of air additional load is imposed on the engine and as more power is required to maintain the speedof the engine at a certain number,

ofrevolutions per minute, explosions take place in additional cylinders 5 by the 006peration of the tappets 57 with the push rods 80 of such cylinders, it being understood that as the speed of the rotor shaft decreases, the tappets 57 are thrust outwardly to obtain the additional impulses or explosions for the purpose of causing the said rotor shaft to pick up its speed until the. predetermined speed is obtained. It will also be observed that the entire operation of the engine is automatic after the tripping blocks QT and 96 have been properly adjusted so as to produce the operation of the locking dogs 86 and the lifting connections for the valves 35 at the proper periods.

The pumping action hereinbefore alluded to will be understood from the following To start the motor a rod 80 is pushed across the head of the cylinder. Said rod supplied under a pressure of 100 pounds from a tank provided for the purpose to mix with the gasolene lifted by means of the pump in the valve body. When the rod 80 and the notch .82, have performed that duty the lift will come upon the adjustable block fixed to the cylinder head and will release the valve and allow it to close. I

When this position has been reached the cock-dogs that hold the piston rod down will be ready to let go of the upper end of the rod. This is accomplished by the notch provided on the rod 80 for that purpose, as there is a mixture of about 100 pounds pressure in the explosion chamber of the' cylinder. The piston will start up and at the same time the small rod that is-fastened to the dog will make an electric contact and a spark will be created at the spark plug where the explosion will take place, with the piston moving up. 'The piston will be driven up with about 500 pounds pressure. To offset this an air cushion is formed at the top of the piston and under the top cylinder head. As the explosion is about five times as great as the compression and the compression is 100 pounds, it will readily be seen that there will be more air pumped thanthe engine will use.

As all the air cannot be discharged from the cylinder the air thatis trapped is about 300 pounds and will expand and as the ports are open under the piston it will be seen that the piston will be started down after the expansion is spent.- To stop the piston at the bottom a space is-left for an air cushion to keep the piston from striking the bottom. When the piston has reached this position the dogs will close and catch it.

As each cylinder is operated independently of the other each cylinder will stand weaves idle until the governor comes in to a slow speedposition when the rods 80 will be pushed across the cylinder head. -Then the cylinders will start firing. The cylinders will start to fire in pairs across from each other. It is to be understood that there is no compression under the piston.

I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction hereinabove described as it will be apparent that the invention is suscentible. of many changes in the form, proportion and minor details thereof which may properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

ll claim 1. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination of a stator, a rotor cooperating therewith, turbine vanes on said rotor and stator, an annular series of stationary combustion chambers surrounding said turbine and having obliquely disposed outlets by means of which the expanding mixture is directed against said vanes, a normally locked piston in each of said cylinders, and means for unlocking the pistons as the speed of the turbine decreases.

2. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination of a stator, a rotor cooperating therewith, turbine vanes on said rotor and stator, an annular series of stationary combustion chambers surrounding said turbine and having obliquely disposed outlets by means of which the expanding mixture is directed against said vanes, a normally locked piston in each of said cylinders, and

means for locking and unlocking said pistons controlled by thespeed of the turbine.

3. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination of a stator, a rotor 'coope"- ating therewith, turbine vanes on said rotor and stator, an annular series of stationary combustion chambers surrounding said-turbine and having obliquely disposed outlets by means of which the expanding mixture is directed against said vanes, a normally locked piston in each of said cylinders, means for locking and unlocking said pistons controlled by the speed of the turbine, the last named means comprising a' rod extending from each piston, locking dogs cooperating with said rods, and governor controlled means for shifting said dogs into and out of locking engagement with the respective piston rods.

4. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination of a stator, a rotor cooper ating therewith, turbine vanes on said rotor and stator, an annular series of stationary combustion chambers surrounding saidturbine and having obliquely disposed outlets by means of which the expanding mixture is directed against said vanes, an intake valve for each cylinder, governor controlled means for opening said valves at a predetermined speed of the engine, and an ignition circuit alsocontrolled by said governor mechanism, the ignition circuit being closed immediately before the opening of said in take valve. V

5. In a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination of a stator, a rotor cooperating therewith, turbine vanes on said rotor and stator, an annular series of stationary combustion chambers surrounding said turbine and having obliquely disposed outlets by means of which the expanding mixture is directed against said vanes, and an air and fuel intake valve for each cylinder, comprising a tubular valve casing, a hollow cylindrical reciprocatory valve movable therein and provided with a plurality of outlet ports in the side wall thereof adapted f to register with a passage leading to the combustion chamber of the cylinder, and means controlled by the speed of the engine for opening said valve.

6. In a rotary internal combustion engine,

the combination of a stator, a rotor cooperating therewith, turbine vanes on said rotor bine and having obliquely disposed outlets by means of which the expanding mixture is directed against said vanes, an airand fuel intake valve for each oyllnder, comprlsm a tubular valve'casing,- a hollow cylindrica.

reciprocatory valve movable therein and provided with a plurality of outlet ports in the side wall thereof adapted to register with a passage leading to the combustion chamber of the cylinder, means controlled by the speed of the engine for opening said valve, said valve comprising a conical valve seat, a stationary valve having a fixed relation to the valve casing, a compressed air conduit in communication with the space between said valve and valve seat, a fuel injecting plunger operating in a central bore in said stationary valve, and a fuel feed pipe leading to said bore.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM J. DODGE. 

